RIYADH, 14 May — With the prospects of Norwegian-brokered peace accord looming on the horizon, Sri Lanka threatens to undercut labor recruitment from India, Pakistan, Indonesia and the Philippines.
Recruitment agencies point out that it is now much easier to recruit domestic servants and skilled or unskilled labor from the island republic. Some 250,000 Sri Lankan expatriates are already working in the Kingdom. Of these, 70 percent are housemaids.
"Housemaids from Indonesia and the Philippines have to be paid anywhere from SR500 to SR700, whereas a Sri Lankan maid would be available for SR450. As for the technical manpower, the going salary is up to SR2,800. Thus employers do not have to worry if Saudi Arabia goes ahead with the taxation regime that is expected to start from SR3,000 onward," M.S. Mohamed Irfan, managing partner and chairman, Orbit International, and A.W. Mohamed Zafry, director, Orbit Travels and Tours, told Arab News.
What makes it easier to recruit Sri Lankan manpower according to them is that "check posts have been dismantled. There is no longer any fear of insecurity. And the people are free to travel anywhere in Colombo and other major cities for selecting skilled manpower of their choice."
